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The prime minister's death
Ioannis Metaxas dies (late January 1941), and Alexandros Korizis becomes the new president of Greece. -
The victories of the Greek navy arm.
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Fall of Greece.
Nazi Germany intervened on its ally's behalf in southern Europe. While most of the Hellenic Army was dislocated on the Albanian front to fend off the relentless Italian counter-attacks, a rapid German Blitzkrieg campaign commenced in April 1941 through Bulgaria and Yugoslavia. Greek and British Commonwealth troops fought back but were overwhelmed. -
“The Italian Spring Offensive”
The Italian Spring Offensive also known as Operazione Primavera (Operation Spring), lasted from 9 to 16 March 1941. The offensive was the last Italian attempt of the war to defeat the Greek forces, which had already advanced deep into Albanian territory.but ended a week later in complete failure. -
German troops entered Athens on April 27 .
On April 27 1941, the first Germans entered Athens, followed by armoured cars. The people of Athens had been expecting the Germans for several days and confined themselves to their homes. The Germans drove straight to the Acropolis and raised the Nazi flag. According to the most popular account of the events, the Evzone soldier on guard duty, Konstantinos Koukidis, took down the Greek flag, refusing to hand it to the invaders, wrapped himself in it, and jumped off the Acropolis. -
The battle of Crete.
The only Greek territory remaining free by May 1941 was the strategically important island of Crete.To conquer it,the German High Command prepared the first mass-scale airborne operation in history.The attack was launched on May 20,1941.The Germans attacked the three main airfields of the island,at the northern towns of Maleme, Rethimnon and Heraklion.The Germans met stubborn resistance from the British,Australian,New Zealand and the remaining Greek troops on the island and from local civilians -
The Fall of Crete
After seven days of fighting the Allied commanders realized that victory was no longer possible. By June 1, the evacuation of Crete by the Allies was complete and the island was under German occupation .Immediately after the fall of Crete, Gen. Student ordered a wave of reprisals against the local population (Kondomari, Alikianos, Kandanos, etc.). -
The Massacre of Kalavryta
It refers to the near-extermination of the men and the total destruction of the town.In December 1943,the German Army began a mission named Operation Kalavryta, intending to encircle Greek Resistance guerilla fighters in the area surrounding Kalavryta. During the operation, 78 German soldiers, who had been taken prisoners by the guerrillas, were executed by their captors.In response, the commander of the Germans,ordered the killing of the male population of Kalavryta on 10 December 1943
